Indian Navy point-blank refuses Chinese navy chiefâ€™s request

The Indian Navy had to politely refuse an unusual request from the Chinese navy chief, Wu Shengli, when he came aboard one of Indiaâ€™s frontline stealth warships, INS Shivalik this week and wanted to be shown the Combat Information Centre (CII) or the all-important tactical room of the frigate.

It was learnt that Indian officers declined Wuâ€™s requestâ€“considered a major break from established protocol followed by navies around the world -- saying since the ship was in the harbour, the room was locked and was not open to outsiders.

But Wu insisted on seeing the room and his aides attempted to convince the Indian side that the Chinese admiral, member of the powerful Central Military Commission, headed by President Xi Jinping, was particularly keen to see the CIC.

At this, Wu was told that he was welcome to visit the CIC during the exercise, which was slated for the following day in the Yellow Sea.

Wu did not agree.

Soon after Wu and the rest of the PLA navy team left the Indian ship.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when Wu, flanked by 15 top Admirals from Peopleâ€™s Liberation Army (PLA) navy, marched on to Shivalik, docked in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao where it had arrived took part in a naval exercise to mark Peopleâ€™s Liberation Army (PLA) navyâ€™s 65th year of founding.

Wu was on the ship to attend the reception thrown by the 300-odd crew of the ship.

As Captain Puruvir Das, Shivalikâ€™s commander and the Indian ambassador Ashok K Kantha escorted Wu and his officers to tour the vessel, Wu said he wanted to see a specific room â€“ the CIC; the CIC is considered to be the â€œnerve centreâ€ of any warship, a room with its equipment that could give a senior navy officer a sharp insight into the shipâ€™s strengths and capabilities.

The Indian side were taken unawares by Wuâ€™s request as it is unheard of for the chief of a navy to make a request to see the CIC of another countryâ€™s warship; China itself is not known to throw open its warship CICs to military officers from other countries.

Sources said Wu broke away from protocol by asking to see the CIC. It was learnt that Captain Das explained to Wu that he was not in a position to take him to the CIC but would gladly give him a tour of the rest of the ship.

Chinese officers were given more access to the Shivalik this time than in 2012 when it had come to Shanghai.

Sources said the Chinese officers were very interested in Shivalik and was surprised that it had sailed all the way from Port Blair without any escort vessel or any other supervisory officer on board other than Captain Das himself.

Das refused to comment on the Wu Shengli incident and instead said that the exercise went off smoothly and that he was looking forward to engaging with the Chinese navy more frequently and deeply.

â€œThis was the highest engagement with the Chinese navy we have had so far. But we do not want to stop at this and every year the level should go higher and higher,â€ Das told HT.

â€œWe brought a Chetak helicopter that was deployed during the exercise which was an anti-hijack operation. Three ships, one each from China, Indonesia and India took part in the exercise,â€ Das said.

Ships from Pakistan, Singapore, Brunei and Bangladesh participated in the exercise carried out in different groups.

The Indian Navy had to politely refuse an unusual request from the Chinese navy chief, Wu Shengli, when he came aboard one of Indiaâ€™s frontline stealth warships, INS Shivalik this week and wanted to be shown the Combat Information Centre (CII) or the all-important tactical room of the frigate.

It was learnt that Indian officers declined Wuâ€™s requestâ€“considered a major break from established protocol followed by navies around the world -- saying since the ship was in the harbour, the room was locked and was not open to outsiders.

But Wu insisted on seeing the room and his aides attempted to convince the Indian side that the Chinese admiral, member of the powerful Central Military Commission, headed by President Xi Jinping, was particularly keen to see the CIC.

At this, Wu was told that he was welcome to visit the CIC during the exercise, which was slated for the following day in the Yellow Sea.

Wu did not agree.

Soon after Wu and the rest of the PLA navy team left the Indian ship.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening when Wu, flanked by 15 top Admirals from Peopleâ€™s Liberation Army (PLA) navy, marched on to Shivalik, docked in the eastern Chinese city of Qingdao where it had arrived took part in a naval exercise to mark Peopleâ€™s Liberation Army (PLA) navyâ€™s 65th year of founding.

Wu was on the ship to attend the reception thrown by the 300-odd crew of the ship.

As Captain Puruvir Das, Shivalikâ€™s commander and the Indian ambassador Ashok K Kantha escorted Wu and his officers to tour the vessel, Wu said he wanted to see a specific room â€“ the CIC; the CIC is considered to be the â€œnerve centreâ€ of any warship, a room with its equipment that could give a senior navy officer a sharp insight into the shipâ€™s strengths and capabilities.

The Indian side were taken unawares by Wuâ€™s request as it is unheard of for the chief of a navy to make a request to see the CIC of another countryâ€™s warship; China itself is not known to throw open its warship CICs to military officers from other countries.

Sources said Wu broke away from protocol by asking to see the CIC. It was learnt that Captain Das explained to Wu that he was not in a position to take him to the CIC but would gladly give him a tour of the rest of the ship.

Chinese officers were given more access to the Shivalik this time than in 2012 when it had come to Shanghai.

Sources said the Chinese officers were very interested in Shivalik and was surprised that it had sailed all the way from Port Blair without any escort vessel or any other supervisory officer on board other than Captain Das himself.

Das refused to comment on the Wu Shengli incident and instead said that the exercise went off smoothly and that he was looking forward to engaging with the Chinese navy more frequently and deeply.

â€œThis was the highest engagement with the Chinese navy we have had so far. But we do not want to stop at this and every year the level should go higher and higher,â€ Das told HT.

â€œWe brought a Chetak helicopter that was deployed during the exercise which was an anti-hijack operation. Three ships, one each from China, Indonesia and India took part in the exercise,â€ Das said.

Ships from Pakistan, Singapore, Brunei and Bangladesh participated in the exercise carried out in different groups.

The inferiority complex ridden hirami Woo would have measured the room with his palm lengths, if given a chance.

BTW this matter has to investigated and a report of this incident has to made and submitted to Chief and MoD with all the details of what has been allowed and what hasn't, including all the tantrums of PLA officers they did on the ship.

Adding to it, a bitch slap/skirmish is long due with these Chinese who have taken Indian forces for granted, a video showing them of crossing our bulwarks even when our armed soldiers were present and this drama on Shivalik deck isn't showing India in any good; regardless of the bravado headlines this news has been published for Indian readers.

Without a doubt-- won't be surprised If they try to bribe our sailors too- with expensive gifts/money/Chinese massage girls-- just for a peek inside that room-

Click to expand...

The have before; one on his visit tried to give money to IAF officer; was later on made a face saver by both sides that he tried to gift the money to him. Please search that episode if you want, yourself, I am bit busy now.

Well. That just shows that China is really concern about India's rising power.
After all i think this is a good thing.
I bet they are not even concern about the paki ships..I'm not even sure if they are considered ships.

INS Shivalik packs enough ammo to flatten Hainan base if it gets close enough. 8 times 300 kgs of conventional warhead mean Hainan disappear. So obviously they want to know a little bit. Also being a stealth frigate, if parked in Cam Rahn Bay, it is only 300nm off Hainan. Just a half hour cruise into the open ocean and before anything the Chinese have can spot it, the Bramhos blinkers will start beeping - Hainan will be history.

noun
1.a surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position.

verb
1. make a surprise attack on (someone) from a concealed position.

make a large number of people advance including from the media and press and try and enrapture by way of using ones status and surrounding entourage. credit to the Navy leadership on the ship and others to spike it out.

Still the question is why would PRC want to have a lookie inside in such a way if there was a risk they would be turned away. They got turned away and that is now known.

It's simple. It was so obvious that their request would be turned down, that no one expected it. Therefore the Chinese were acting by surprise, trying to make Indian officers confused and unable to react properly.

It's simple. It was so obvious that their request would be turned down, that no one expected it. Therefore the Chinese were acting by surprise, trying to make Indian officers confused and unable to react properly.

Click to expand...

I dont know if we ought to feel good of the esteem and reverence the PRC showed India by trying to act and do such a inventiveness approach and craftsmanship on such a occasion. the gratification that such a approach was done on india (signifying they wanted to have a look inside).

It was good that India stood firm and the response was for one to frame on the walls:

Fortunately, sources said, the frigateâ€™s Commanding Officer, the experienced Captain Puruvir Das, deftly handled the situation. He stood his ground and told the Admiral that operating procedures meant that the CIC had to remain closed at harbour with no exceptions, but told him that he would be welcome to visit the ship at sea during exercises, an unlikely prospect for Chinaâ€™s Navy Chief.

Would it have been iniquitous of the PRC Admiral riding on the Indian Navy Shivalik during a major exercise.

The headline and main focus ought to be the response and reaction when PRC Admiral said "Nope".

Making the PRC Admiral loose face by denying the entry into CIC ought to have been kept in-house (possibly for later use). But the rejection of the offer of friendship ought to have been milked.

A wonderful comparative analysis would be how many Combat Information Centre the PRC Admiral visited during that time of other countries and which countries and if it was all.

Another thing is the PRC Admiral would remember such a thing and would try and get one over the Indian Navy later. A bit like Nehru psychosis of PRC leadership before 1962 (can not accept him being superior).